I start 2014 with 2 realisations:
1) A New Year's resolution to write at least one new blog post a week.
2) A commitment to review every single free book I download on my kindle.
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*Looking at kindle and looking up books that are free, I've now realised that this would mean reviewing 1000s of books, some in different languages. Huh.
Occasionally, a free download will actually turn out well. More often, it reminds me that I've wasted several hours of my life trudging through a book no editor has ever been near.
This is why I’ve decided to have a section on Free Kindle books for the win, and Free Kindle books to steer clear of.
Free Kindle book for the win:
UnEnchanted (An Unfortunate Fairy Tale-Chanda Hahn
(http://www.amazon.co.uk/UnEnchanted-An-Unfortunate-Fairy-Tale-ebook/dp/B006ROK1UM/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1389801521&sr=8-2&keywords=unfortunate+fairy+tales)
This is a fun book about a 17 year old, social outcast called Mina Grime. From an early stage in her life, strange things have happened around her. Her mother's reaction so far has been to flee the state every time her bizarre antics draw attention.
The story starts on a disastrous fieldtrip where she ends up saving her crush who's about to fall into a pit. Later events convince us that her mother was right to be wary. Her real name in fact is Mina Grimm and her family has been cursed with being forced to re-enact all the Grimm fairy tales or die trying.
Good points-
1) Well-written-story flows along smoothly and steers clear of most stereotypes found in YA novel, e.g. very minimal commentary on the apparent cliques of American high schools, which I’m convinced only exist in books and novels. There is still some given she has a crush on the most popular guy, who is (naturally) dating the most popular girl, who again appears to be popular out of fear. I think this is a more realistic proposal when a high school is based in a small town, but this phenomenon appears in pretty much every high school based book or film ever.
2) Developed side characters-her best friend is relatable. Her brother who refuses to speak ever still manages to make his presence known by indulging in truly odd food combinations. The friendship between the best friend and strange brother is sweet.
3) It was free a book that made me want to buy the next book.
Bad points-
1) Halfway through, a good looking but jerky guy turns up. It seems that the author is planning to create a love triangle. This literary device is not only overplayed but also seldom convincing (as an aside, like anyone though Bella was going to end up with Jacob, that was dumb from the get go).
Verdict: This book made me want to continue, and intertwined fairy tales and modern society in a novel and interesting way. Strong side-characters who are likely to get their own story arcs makes me happy I discovered this author.
Terrible free book of the week
The wishing well (the Paradan Tales)-Holly Zitting
(http://www.amazon.co.uk/The-Wishing-Well-Paradan-Tales-ebook/dp/B00B7WJOY8/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1389801568&sr=1-1&keywords=the+wishing+well)
Centred on a girl called Aurora, apparently being bullied because she’s pretty. Ordinarily I would stop reading right then and there because that it is the dumbest reason for anyone to be a social outcast ever. She also spends her time at school being active in student government and helping kids with special needs. Kill. Me. Now. So the main character, who apparently has no friends while coming across as a (unrealistically) nice person, is crouched in the bucket of a giant well, trying to hide from kids who hate her because she’s beautiful.
Unsurprisingly, given the title, she falls into the well and wakes up in a land called Paradan, whereupon she’s becomes enslaved and is forced to serve in the castle.
Reasons why this book is bad:
1) Unbelievable premise-they hate her because she’s beautiful. Her social life revolves around student government and helping kids with special needs.
2) Paradan-The world building is unbelievably weak in this book. It’s never explained why in this world of elves, giants, fairies and dragons, why humans rule over everything. Human royal families make no sense in this context, and also suggest that there are alternative ways in and out of Paradan besides a wishing well. It’s also not explained really why King Tommit managed to gain the throne and why once he was there, he was so awful.
3) The lost heir-it made no sense why Aura wouldn’t tell anyone about her child and would give him away for a fairy family to raise. It also made no sense why her love for Kind Windom had to be kept secret or why she wouldn’t say anything when her father decided to invade Paradan. For one thing, if they were in love, a dynastic marriage would have solved everything. So the situation that gave way to King Windom dying without a known heir and King Tommit becoming the new ruler made no sense.
4) The love interest-Cassius, a good looking stable boy (who’s secretly the heir to the throne) because this book didn’t have enough clichés in it already.
5) Ending set up to gear way to an unnecessary sequel. For no reason, despite the fact that she’s in love and barely remembers Oregon or her parents, and despite the fact that two pages back she had reached a different conclusion, she uses one of the only wishes left in Paradan to go home. Hence, the need for another book explaining how she gets back again.
Verdict: Too many flaws. You should only read this book if you want to be that person who throws their kindle into a wall out of frustration. It would have almost worked as a self-contained book, but the very flimsy premise on which it spawns a sequel makes it terrible.
